Nick of Time, (Just) In the
At the last minute, just in time. This term comes from a now obsolete meaning of nick that signifies “the critical moment.” A 1577 chronicle states, “The Romane navie…arrived at the very pinch, or as commonly we say, in the nick.” Nearly a century later, “of time” was added to clarify the issue, although “just in the nick” continued to be used for many years. It probably was a cliché by the time Sir Walter Scott wrote (The Pirate, 1821), “The fortunate arrival of Gordaunt, in the very nick of time.”
Synonyms and Related Expressions 💫
- Eleventh hour: Waiting until the last possible moment.
- Under the wire: Barely making it before a deadline.
- Last ditch effort: A final attempt to succeed.
- Down to the wire: Approaching a deadline with little time to spare.
Antonyms 🚫
- Early bird: Someone who does things far ahead of the necessary time.
- Ahead of the game: Being prepared well before time.
- Well before the bell: Completing tasks early.
Humor Corner 🤣
“I’m so punctual, I arrive just in the lick of the nick of time!” —The Delayed Perfectionist
Thought-Provoking Proverbs 🧐
- Procrastination is the thief of time.
- Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. —William Shakespeare
Fun in Literature, Music, and Movies 📚🎬🎶
- Books: Just in Time by Lynn Abbey
- Movies: Back to the Future (1985) - Marty McFly always seems to arrive just in the nick of time.
- Songs: “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago often describes situations needing nick-of-time resolutions.
Use in Conversation 🗣️
“Yeah, I finally submitted my project just in the nick of time—I couldn’t believe I made it before the portal closed!”
Quizzes 📚🎉
Inspirational Farewell 🤔
Time waits for no one. However, in those moments where milliseconds become miles, remember: the perfect time is often right now.
By: N. Synchronize, October 2023
